Biography of THE HON. JAMES A. WESTON of Manchester NH
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SOURCE: History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire 
Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1885
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page 121

HON. JAMES A. WESTON
(by J.W. Fellows)
The Weston family came from Buckinghamshire, England, and settled in
Massachusetts. John Weston came in 1622, but returned in a few years.
His brothers and kinspeople soon after his return emigrated to this
country, and in 1644 his son, John Weston Jr., came and settled in
Reading [MA].
  From him the subject of this sketch is descended in direct line,
and represents the seventh generation.
  His grandfather, Amos Weston, moved from Reading to Derryfield, NH
in 1803 and settled in the southeast part of the town, known in later
times as the Weston farm. He was a man of character and ability, and
enjoyed the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens.
  His son, Amos Jr., was born in Reading [MA] in 1791, and came to
Derryfield [NH] with his parents. His early life was passed in school
and with his father upon the home farm, but at the proper age he
began for himself, and by industry and perseverance gained a
competency in early life. He was highly esteemed by his people and was
frequently called to act for them in local matters. He was also
prominently identified with the business interests and public affairs
of the town, and may justly be regarded as one of the founders of its
growth and prosperity.  He married Betsy Wilson, of Londonderry NH,
in 1814. She was the daughter of Colonel Robert Wilson and granddaughter
of James Wilson, one of those sturdy and substantial men of Scotch-Irish
descent so well known in the history of the early settlements of this
State.
  James Adams Weston was born August 27, 1827. He was the youngest of 
five children, and is the only surviving member of the family of Amos
and Betsy (Wilson) Weston. His early life was passed with his parents,
and in the usual pursuits of boys similiarly situated,-- attending
school and laboring upon the farm at such seasons as circumstances
required. Mr. Weston was not a graduate of college, and his education
did not partake of the character sometimes termed "liberal education,"
but he was pre-eminently a well-educated man. His constitution of mind
led him in the direction of practical and useful pursuits from the 
first. He was inclinded to scientific and mathematical studies, and
distinguished in his early school-days for habits of industry and
perseverance in the faithful and patient investigation of every subject
within his reach.
  After the distict school he attended the Manchester and Piscataquog
Academies, where he pursued his studies with earnestness and
application. Subsequently he studied those branches which were deemed
the most important to fit him for civil engineering, to which he had
decided to devote himself as an avocation for life.
  He taught school in Londonderry in 1845, and in Manchester in 1846,
with the best of success, and during the remainder of the time devoted
himself to the study of his chosen profession.
  In this labor he proceeded with a well-considered system, and
qualified himself thoroughly for a high position among the civil
engineers of his time.
  In 1846 he was appointed assistant engineer of the Concord Railroad,
and entered upon the work of laying the second track of that
corporation.
  In 1849 he was appointed to the position of chief engineer of the
corporation, which he held for many years.
  While chief engineer of the Concord Railroad he was master of
transportation and road-master of the Manchester and Lawrence Railroad
about seven years. In 1861-62 he superintended the construction of the
Manchester and Candia Railroad and the Hooksett Branch Railroad.  In 
1869 he superintended the building of the Suncook Valley Railroad, and,
later, made the surveys of the Manchester and Keene Railroad. In all
these and other business enterprises, Mr. Weston has been the careful
and far-seeing manager as well as the technical engineer, and has done
the work with that well-known characteristic, "without mistake."
  During the time he was employed on these public works he was
frequently engaged in private matters of importance, both as a practical
and advisory engineer, and in cases where controversy had arisen.  Soon
after being appointed chief engineer of the Concord Railroad he moved
to Concord to live, on account of his principal business, but in 1856
he returned to Manchester, where he now resides.
  Notwithstanding Governor Weston's life has been full of business
interests and duties of an important character, growing out of his
professional employment, he has been drawn into political and public
positions to a considerable extent.
  He has never been a partisan or a politician in the common
acceptation, but he has always been allied to the Democratic party and
firmly devoted to the principles of their political creed.  He is of
conservative and still decided views, reaching his conclusions in the
same logical manner as in the discharge of any important trust. He
believes the simple duties of citizenship are full of responsibilities,
and that their proper observance requires the same careful study and
faithful action as the highest official position.
  In 1862 he was placed in nomination for the office of mayor of
Manchester by the Democratic party. Although very largely in the
minority, and at a time when party strife was very great in this State,
so universally acknowledged was Mr. Weston's fitness for the position,
and so generally had he enjoyed the respect and esteem of his
fellow-citizens, that he broke down the party lines, run far ahead of
his ticket and was defeated by only a small number of votes.
  In 1863 he was again induced to accept the nomination for the same
office, and while the same intensely partisan campaign was made by his
opponents and party spirit ran higher than before, he gained on his
adversary and lost the election by less than a score of votes.
  In 1867 he was again brought forward by his party, and, although
their relative strength was about the same and a determined effort
was made by the Republican party to defeat him, he was elected mayor
by a handsome majority, and entered upon his official duties in
January, 1868.  In 1869 he was the candidate of the Democrats for the
same position, and, although not succesful it took a carefully revised
official count to determine the result.  In 1870 he was re-elected
mayor, and again in 1871.
  In 1874 he was a third time chosen mayor by an overwhelming majority,
which office he held when elected Governor. It must be borne in mind 
that Manchester has been a strongly Republican city, the majority of
that party often running from six to seven hundred.  Nor have the
opponents of Mayor Weston been unpopular or unfit candidates. On the
contrary, they have been uniformly selected for their great popular
strength and fitness for the position.  The Republican leaders have
not been novices, and it has not been their intention to suffer defeat;
but whenever victory has been wrung from their unwilling grasp, it has
been done against great odds, and because the Democrats had unusual
strength, one of its most important elements having been the superior
qualifications and fitness for the place which Mr. Weston was
acknowledged on all sides to have possessed.
  During the period of his mayoralty a great advancement of the material
interests of the city took place, and marked improvements were
inaugurated and successfully carried on. An improved system of
sewerage was established, and, so far as practicable, completed,
which proved of incalculable benefit. A general plan for establishing
the grade of streets and side-walks was arranged, and steps taken to
obviate many difficulties which has arisen in connection with this
important part of municipal government. Improvement in the public
commons was commenced and carried on as far as economy and fair
expenditures of each year seemed to warrant, and the foundation was
laid in public policy, adopted under his managment, for permanent and
systematic ornamentation of the parks and public grounds. The matter of
concrete walks received its first encouragement from Mayor Weston. It
was a subject about which much difference of opinion existed, and when
the mayor authorized the covering one of the walks across one of the
commons at the public expense it received much severe criticism, but the
popular view soon changed, and the experience of the city since that
time shows the wisdom of the first step in that direction.
  In the matter of a water supply has Mr. Weston been of inestimable
service to his fellow-citizens. In this important enterprise he took a 
leading part. No one realized more fully the great benefit which an
adequate water supply would be, and few comprehended as well the
embarrassments connected with the undertaking. The question had been
agitated considerably and various surveys had been made, and the
people were divided upon different plans and theories. Popular notions
fell far short of the full comprehension of the subject, and while he
was supported by many of the leading and most influential citizens it 
was a very difficult matter to accomplish. Mr. Weston had made his own
surveys and was thoroughly informed upon the whole subject, and
engaged in the work with zeal and determination. The necessary
legislation having been obtained, he prepared and carried through the
city government the appropriate ordinaces by which the enterprise took
shape and the plan for placing the whole matter in the hands of a 
board of commissioners.
  TO his foresight and intelligent view of this subject, and earnest
devotion to carrying out and completing the scheme, the people of
Manchester owe their most excellent water supply more than to any other
influence, and it is a monument to his good name, more and more
honorable as time proves the estimable value of a pure and adequate
supply of water to the people of our city.
  Mayor Weston was the first officer of the city to recommend the
erected of a soldier's monument, and, by his earnest advocacy, and 
finely-educated taste, was largely instrument in deciding what style
should be adopted, and bringing that worthy and patriotic enterprise to
a successful completion. The noble shaft which now and ever will, we
trust, commemorate the glorious deeds and the fearful sacrifices of
the soldiers from Manchester in the War of the Rebellion, speaks a word
as well for those who attempted, in a small measure, to show the high
appreciation in which their gallant services are held.
  Frequent mention of Mr. Weston as a candidate for Governor had been
made, and in 1871 he became the nominee of the Democratic party for that
office.  In the guernatorial contest he was met by the determined
effort of his opponents to defeat his election. He would  have
undoubtedly been elected by the people but for the strategical 
movement of his adversary to have a third candidate in the fight. This
shceme was partly successful, preventing an election by the people by
only one hundred and thirteen votes, although Mr. Weston had a large
plurality. He was elected Governor by the Legislature, and inaugurated
on the 14th day of June, 1871.
  The Governor's administration was characteritzed by economy and the
most conscientious observance of official honor and integrity. Even
the most zealous partizan never questioned his faithful discharge of
duty, and his official term closed with the highest respect of the
whole people. In 1872 the Republic party put in nomination their
"great man," the Hon. E. A. Straw, agent of the Amoskeag Manufacturing
Company, and placed their campaign upon the supposed issue between
manufacturing interests and other branches of business in the country.
Mr. Straw was elected, and again in 1873, but in 1874, Mr. Weston was
the standard-bearer of the Democratic party and defeated the 
Republicans. Although he failed of election by the people, he received
a large plurality, and was elected by the Legislature in June following.
  In every instance where Mr. Weston has been the candidate of his party
for public office it has been when his opponent started in the race 
with a majority and with numerous party advantages. Mr. Weston has
fought his campaigns against numbers and against prestige. He has
contested the ground with opponents who were no mean adversaries,
and his successes have been alike honorable to him and the party to
which he belongs.
  During the years of his public life and since, Governor Weston has
kept apace with the times in the many enterprises and business projects
of his vicinity and and State, and has held many places of trust and
importance. In 1871 he was appointed a member of the New Hampshire
Centennial Commission, of which body he was chairman, and as such worked
with great zeal and efficiency to promote the success of New Hampshire's
exhibit.  He was also made a member of the Centennial Board of
FInance by Congress.  He has been chairman of the Board of Water
Commissioners from its beginning. For several years he has been a
member of the State Board of Health; also treasurer of the Eliott
Hospital corporation, chairman of the "Trustees of the Cemetery Fund,"
treasurer of the Suncook Valley Railroad, treasurer of the Franklin
Street Church Society, one of the directors and clerk of the Manchester
Horse Railroad corporation, president of the Locke Cattle Company;
but his main business is the management of the Merchants' National
Bank, of which he has been the president since its organization, and
the Guaranty Savings-Bank, of which  he has been the treasurer since
its incorporation. These two banks, although not so old as their
neighbors, are, nevertheless, equally successful, and stand second to
none in sound financial reputation.  Governor Weston is the president,
and has actively been concerned in the management of the New Hampshire
Fire Insurance Company, devoting a large portion of his time to its
affairs.
  Governor Weston has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since
1861, and has taken a deep interest in its prosperity. He has received
all the grades, including the orders of knighthool, and has held many
places of trust and responsibility, notably among them that of
treasurer of Trinity Commandery for twenty-two years,--a fact which
shows the confidence and esteem which his brethren have for him.
  In 1854 he married Miss Anna S. Gilmore, daughter of Mitchel S.
Gilmore, Esq. of Concord. THey have five surviving children,--the
eldest born, Herman, having deceased at the age of four and a half
years; Grace Helen, born July 1, 1866; James Henry, July 17, 1868;
Edwin Bell, March 15, 1871; Annie Mabel, September 26, 1876, and
Charles Albert, November 1, 1878.
  We find him surrounded by his family, living in his elegant and
tastily-arrnaged home, blessed with all that life can afford. So far
his journey has been successful and happy. Few shadows have crossed the
way, and his course has been one of honor and distinction.
  In the estimate of character the world is often led astray by looking
at results and not observing the conditions under which they are
gained.  Accident often determines a whole life,--some unlooked-for
and unmerited fortune builds castles for men, and, in spite of
themselves, makes them noted.  Not so with the subject of this sketch.
His good fortune is the well-deserved result of sound business
principles and their careful and systematic application to every
undertaking.
  Governor Weston is not a man of impulse and sudden conclusions.
He is rather of the deliberate and cautious habits of though and
action, and inclined to the analysis and investigation of all matters
in which he may be interested to an unusual degree.  The natural
counterpart of such characteristics--an abiding confidence and
disposition to adhere teanciously to well-matured plans--is the
leading feature of his mind.  His achievements have been true
successes, and he has never had occasion to take the "step backward"
so common to men in public life. Better for the world and better for
himself is he who builds slowly, but safely!

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SOURCE:
Manchester, A Brief Record of its Past and A Picture of Its Present, 
including an account of is settlement and its growth as town and city; 
a history of its schools, churches, societies, banks, post-offices, 
newspapers and manufactures; a description of its government, police 
and fire department, public buildings, library, water-works, 
cemeteries, streets, streams, railways and bridges; a complete list of 
the selectmen, moderators and clerks of the town and members of the 
councils, marshals and engineers of the city, with the state of the 
cote for mayor at each election; the story of its part in the war of 
the rebellion with a complete list of its soldiers who went ot the war; 
and sketches of its representative citizens; Manchester N.H.; John B. 
Clark; 1875
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page 440-441
****
THE HON. JAMES A. WESTON
****
James Adams Weston was born upon the "old Weston farm" in Manchester
[NH] August 27, 1827. He is the son of Amos and Betsey (Wilson) Weston
and was the youngest of five children, of whom he alone survives. He
traces his lineage to the Westons of Buckinghamshire, England, whose
descendants, after coming to this country, were prominent in colonial
affairs, and the name of one of them has been handed down as that of
the founder of the first Baptist church in America. He is of the sixth
generation of the descendants of John Weston, who came from England
in 1644 and finally settled in Reading, Mass., in 1642. His grandfather,
Aos Weston, moved in 1803 to the farm to which his name has since
been attached and which is situated in the southeastern part of
Manchester, then a part of Londonderry.  His father, Amos Weston, a man
prominent in the affairs of the town, reisded on the old farm until
1853, when he removed to Mr. Weston's present residence near the 
compact part of the city. His mother was a daughter of
Col. Robert Wilson and granddaughter of James Wilson, who came from
Londonderry, Ireland about 1728 and settled at the place now known as
Wilson's Crossing in Londonderry NH.
  The subject of this sketch remained at home, assisting his father 
upon the farm, most of the time until 1846, except while attending or
teaching school. He acquired an education at the district school and at
the academies in Manchester and Piscataquog Village, giving especial
attention to mathematics and civil engineering, for which he developed
much taste.  In the winter of 1844 he taught school at Londonderry and
the next winter in Manchester. He had still pursued his studies and
in 1846 was appointed assistant civil engineer of the Concord Railroad
and began laying its second track. Three years later he removed to
Concord and became the chief engineer of the railroad, a position he
has ever since held. For several years in connection with that office
he perfomed the duties of road-master and master of transportation of
the Concord and Manchester & Lawrence Railroads.  As chief engineer,
he superintended the construction of the branch of the Concord &
Portsmouth railway from Manchester to Candia and of the Suncook Valley
railway from Hooksett to Pittsfield. In 1856 he moved to this city
where he has since resided, devoting himself chiefly to his profession
and to the duties of the public offices he has held.
  Mr. Weston was the Democratic candidate for mayor of the city in
1861, 1862 and 1868 and was elected in 1867, 1869, 1870 and 1873. He
was elected governor of the state in 1871 and 1874. He has been the
vice-president of the New Hampshire Fire Insurance Company since it
was organized in 1869 and a trustee of the Amoskeag Savings Bank
since 1870. In 1871 he was appointed as the governor of the state,
one of a commission to presented the state in matters relating to
the centennial celebration of the national independence at Philadelphia
PA in 1876, and in 1872 was appointed by congress a member of the
centennial board of finance. He married in 1854 Miss Anna S., daughter
of Mitchel Gilmore of Concord NH, and has three children living--
Grace Helen, James Henry and Edwin Bell.
  Gov. Weston has received from the people of this city and state a
very large share of public honors and has borne them well. He has
never failed to enjoy the confidence of the residents of his native
city and to receive votes beyond the strength of his party when a
candidate for any office. A very thoughtful, careful, prudent man,
patriotic and high-minded in his natural impulses, he has always been
earnest to do what he could for the moral and intellectual elevation
of the people. He has been through the fiery ordeal of politics and
has been pushed by his party far beyond his natural inclinations.
He has been successful as an engineer, as a mayor and as a governor,
is very practical on all subjects to which he turns his attention,
always writes well and sensibly, and appears to good advantage
wherever he is placed.

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